Last week, Bill Maher devoted almost eight minutes on his HBO show to a topic that has befuddled me for years: Why are consensual romantic relationships so taboo in the American workplace? More specifically, Maher challenges the idea of banning office romances between supervisors and subordinates.

In the Real Time with Bill Maher segment, the comedian explains that people spend a lot of their time at work and, as they get to know their colleagues, they could fall in love. He’s right. It only makes sense that you’re more likely to connect with a person you see on a regular basis.

Ime Udoka

Maher brings up the recent season-long suspension of Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka for an “improper, intimate, and consensual” relationship with a subordinate. The team calls it a violation of their code of conduct. If Udoka was somehow abusing his power, that would definitely be a problem. However, Maher says if the relationship was truly consensual, it’s nobody’s business.

In fairness to the Celtics, they may be right to part ways with Udoka. The coach was engaged to actress Nia Long at the time of this workplace relationship. On top of that, he has a ten-year-old son with Long. There’s also…